When Colleen Duffley and her husband Steve Carpenter first acquired Andiamo Lodge in March 2020, they painstakingly renovated it to be a luxe respite. Monk’s Cottage, a true monastery retreat adjacent to the property, was always in their sight line. When it eventually became available, the couple purchased the cottage and set about reimagining it into an extension of the Andiamo portfolio.
Colleen replaced the red exterior and drywall with board-and-batten siding and shiplap, added beams, and extended the screen porch. She moved the entrance to create a more welcoming front entry, anchored by an oversized gold light fixture. Inside, a stone fireplace is topped with metal—a contrast Colleen wanted both for its look and to keep the fireplace from feeling too heavy.
Many of the details were custom-made. Colleen sketched shelving to make use of the space behind the fireplace. Even the screen door was designed with a distinctive crisscross pattern. The result, she says, feels old and well established, rather than newly renovated.
The recent addition includes a personal connection in the décor with wallpaper by Flint Wood & Hicks, the design collaboration between India Hicks and her husband, David. Colleen and India have known each other ever since Colleen first photographed her in the Bahamas for an assignment nearly 30 years. Their friendship grew into years of work together, and the wallpaper project offered a chance to bring that history to Andiamo.
Colleen chose two patterns for the bedrooms and redesigned the rooms around them, positioning the beds so the wallpaper could take center stage. Rather than papering every wall, she used it as an accent. A third pattern, the striped “Boys Pajamas,” covers the bathroom, creating what Colleen calls a “little jewel box.” Peacock Alley linens appear in the bedrooms, and a new rug from India’s line is expected to join the mix.
The cottage also reflects Colleen’s relationships with other makers. Pieces from Jan Barboglio include the orange chairs and fireplace screen; the sofa is from Four Hands. And bringing it all together are the burnt-orange doors that have become a signature at Andiamo.
Colleen describes the property as “curated, not decorated.” Monk’s Cottage makes that distinction tangible with items such as vintage cameras and a piece of art she assembled from old photographic equipment, along with custom details and meaningful finds. Each element has a story, she says—and together, they give the cottage the warmth of a place that has always belonged.
